Air China flight faces mid-flight panic as lithium battery catches fire, video goes viral
Video showing a lithium battery inside a passenger's bag catching fire mid-air in an Air China flight has gone viral on social media.
In a chaotic incident, a lithium battery inside a passenger’s hand luggage caught fire mid-air in an Air China flight travelling from Hangzhou to Seoul. The flight CA139 was forced to make an emergency diversion to Shanghai-Pudong airport after smoke began filling the cabin.
Videos shared online showed passengers reacting in Panic, covering their faces and moving quickly as smoke spread. Cabin crew members were seen rushing to control the situation using fire extinguishers and water bottles.
Later, Air China reportedly confirmed that the fire was brought under control quickly and that the plane landed safely in Shanghai. They further clarified the reason of the incident, stating that the battery overheated while stored in the overhead compartment.
The incident went viral online with many viewer expressing shock at the sudden inflight emergency. One user commented, “Gone be the days when people rush to put out fire together. Now take video first. Do they know if that fire spread, they may not be able to upload those videos.”
While another added, “So you mean to tell me aircrafts don’t carry fire extinguishers? got it.”
Today, an Air China flight (CA139) from Hangzhou to Incheon was forced to make an emergency landing in Shanghai, China, after a lithium battery in a passenger’s overhead bag caught fire. pic.twitter.com/emRolEYbmj
— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) October 18, 2025
